Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has disclosed he “secretly” withdrew his son, Al-Sadiq el-Rufai, from the Kaduna Capital School, a government-sponsored school, due to security reports of bandits’ plan to kidnap his son.
According to the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), “we got intercepts from at least two groups that are planning to attack the school to kidnap my son”.
The enrollment of Al-Sadiq in the school garnered a massive commendation from Nigerians home and abroad. However, the withdrawal of the child was done by the governor secretly without the camera flash that accompanied his registration in the school.
In a report by Daily Trust, many residents of Kaduna state saw the withdrawal as “betrayal of public trust and confidence”.
“I am grossly disappointed because the whole enrolment episode looked deceptive,” Ibrahim Yaro, a resident of Kaduna, told Daily Trust.
I will not pay ransom even if my son is abducted – El-Rufai
“Leaders should keep their words and the promises they make. After the governor has removed his son from the public school, he is now busy increasing fees and sacking teachers…I really don’t understand where he is heading to. Someone should talk to him, please,” he said.
It was gathered that the boy was withdrawn shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown which eventuated in closure of schools. But when the lockdown was lifted and students returned to school, Al-Sadiq did not return.
In defence of his action, el-Rufai told BBC Pidgin; “My son and my daughter are registered in the school because his sister turned six and we had to register her.
“But we have had to temporarily withdraw them for the security of the school because we got intercepts from at least two groups that are planning to attack the school to kidnap my son,” he said.
Meanwhile, el-Rufai had earlier boasted that he will never pay ransom to kidnappers even if “my son is abducted“.
In a similar vein, the governor’s wife, Aisha-Ummi Garba El-Rufai, said she is ready to die if kidnapped, stressing no ransom should be paid to her abductors.
